Gloster Aircraft Since 1917

Renowned for its Schneider Trophy seaplane racers and fighters like the Gladiator, the Gloster Aircraft Company displayed design ingenuity, even though no type was ordered into quantity production. The company was chosen to produce Britain's first jet aircraft, the E28/39 and followed its success with the Meteor and the all-weather Javelin.

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Although most renowned for its series of seaplane racers for the Schneider Trophy Contests and for fighters like the Gamecock and the Gladiator, the Gloster Aircraft Company ran the gamut of design ingenuity, even though no type was ordered into quantity production. The company was chosen to produce Britain's first jet aircraft, the E28/39 and followed its success with the ubiquitous Meteor and the all weather, missile-carrying Javelin, of which some 4000 were built. This updated edition of of Gloster Aircraft since 1917 describes the company's formation and development in the face of a diminishing need for military aircraft and provides some fascinating insights into the manner to which it struggled to surmount the engineering and financial problems of the four decades of its existence before succumbing to the economic and political pressures of the post 1957 Defence White Paper era. Each chapter in this book covers a specific aeroplane, discussing its construction, development and operational history and comprehensive appendices give year by year production figures, UK and export sales, air racing successes and record achievements.